Automatic regulator.



No. 746,047. D v PATBNTBD DEO. 8. 1903.-

A. R. DODGE.

AUTOMATIC REGULATOR.

APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 21, 1902.

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PATENTBD DEG. 8, 1903.-

' A. R. DODGE.

AUTOMATIC REGULATOR.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 21, 1902.

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JCVCCSL UNITED STATES Patented December 8, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

AUSTIN R. DODGE, OF SCHENECTADY, NEV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 746,047, dated December 8, 1903.

Application tiled August 2l, 1902. Serial No. 120,486. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, AUSTIN R. DODGE,a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Regulators, of which the following is a specification.

In testing steam or other engines it is desirable to maintain a constant pressure for reasons well understood. This is commonly done by employing a man to vary the position of the throttle-valve in the supply-pipe. I have found it difticult to secure a man, particularly in hot weather, who can hold the pressure constant within one per cent. by this means. It is further objectionable in thatit increases the cost of testing, Which cost is a very considerable factor where a large number of engines are being tested.

The present invention has for its object to provide a regulator which will automatically maintain a constant pressure on the engine or other apparatus under test or which will automatically maintain a constant voltage or current or speed on the system when the regulatoris employed in connection with electrical apparatus.

In carrying out my invention an electric motor is provided, which is geared or otherwise connected to the throttle-valve or other device to be actuated. When the motor revolves in one direction, the throttle or other device is opened more or less, and when it revolves in the opposite direction the valve or other device is closed to a greater or less extent. In the case of electrical apparatus the motor is connected to a regulator of suitable characterin such manner that the eect on the system or generator is to increase or decrease the current or voltage, as desired. The circuit of the motor is controlled by a pressure-gage or equivalent device,which,act ing through electromagnets, starts and stops it at the proper time, suitable means being provided to prevent the motor from overtravelingorliunting, as it is called. I provide two sets of motor-controlling magnets or devices, one being employed to rectify slight changes in pressure, voltage, or current, the other to rectify material changes. In the present embodiment of my invention the second device is arranged to act on the motor through the rst: This is done by rendering the former inoperative until the conditions are approximately normal, after which the first again comes into service. I do not wish to be understood, however, as limiting myself to this precise arrangement, since the second regulating device or one acting to rectify the major variation may act directly on the motor. In order to stopihe motor the instant the desired change in condition is effected, a suitable and additional load is applied to the armature.

For a consideration of what I consider to be novel and to be my invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings, speciiication, and claims appended thereto.

In the drawings, which illustrate my invention in one of its embodiments, Figure l is a diagrammatic view of a motor geared to a valve or other regulating device, together with the necessary magnets and controlling devices and circuits. Fig. 2 is avertical section of a steam-gage with the necessary circuit-controlling contacts. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the relation between the stationary and moving contacts. Fig. 4 is a partial transverse section of the gage.- Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of an electrical instrument arranged to close and open the circuits of the main and auxiliary magnets, and Fig. 6 shows agovernor suitable for a water-wheel.

Referring to Fig. l, 1 represents a controlling device the action of which is to be regulated. In the present illustration a throttlevalve is shown which is situated in the snpply-pipe 2 and is operated by the electric motor 3. The pipe may supply steam to an engine or water to a turbine, as desired. The motor should be of such size and so arranged that it can be started into operation in a very brief interval of time. I have found that a motor which will attain full speed in a fraction of a second will give good results. The entire system is actuated by direct current; but it can be operated by alternating current or by a combination of both, asis best adapted to meet the given conditions. Current is supplied by suitable means. In the present instance a three-wire system is used, having conductors 4, 5, and 6. The motor is excited by a field-winding 7 of any suitable character, which is permanently connected in circuit. As shown, the field is connected between the mains 4 and 6. The amount of current supplied to the armature is regulated by the rheostat 8. As shown, the armature is connected between the neutral wire 5 and the outside wires L and 6 of the three-wire system. It is adapted to be connected between wires 4t and 5 when motion in one direction is required and between 5 and 6 when motion in the opposite direction is required.

Two controlling-magnets 9 and 10 are provided. The former is employed to rectify slight changes in pressure, voltage, or current, as the case may be, and is the one more constantly in service, and will therefore be hereinafter designated the main magnet, while the latter (magnet 10) is only in service when the fluctuations are great and will be hereinafter called the auxliary7 magnet. It should be noted that both of these magnets are permanently connected in circuit. Each of these magnets is provided with two windings or a single winding with a tap taken out at about the center, which is virtually the same thing. Both of the windings or parts of a winding act upon a common core 11. The core is suspended from two arms 12, which form a parallel motion suspension, and since the winding is divided into two parts when one of said parts is energized the core will be moved to the left and when the other part is energized it will be moved to the right. When both parts are energized, the core will be held in a central position, thus doing awaywith all springs or centering mechanism. Instead of cutting the sections of the winding into and out of circuit by making and breaking the circuit, which causes arcing, I find it preferable to shunt them by a low resistance, thus obtaining the same effect and preventing destructive arcing. This shunting will be referred to hereinafter.

Mounted on the ends of the arms 12 of the main magnet are contacts 13 and 14, which are electrically connected to one another and to the-armature of the motor. Situated opposite the contacts 13 and 14 are other contacis 15 and 16, which are so arranged that when the arms 12 are moved to the extreme right or left the circuit through them will be closed. The contacts are so positioned that when in the position shown the circuit to the motorearmature is open. Contact 15 is connected to the negative side of the system and contact 16 to the positive side. From this it will be seen that when contacts 13 and 15 are closed the armature will rotate backward,and forward when contacts 14 and 16 are closed, assuming the field-winding 7 to Abe properly connected.

The auxiliarymagnetl() differs veryslightly from the main magnet. It is provided with the same kind of winding; but the arms 12 instead of carrying contacts are arranged to engage the bell-crank arms 17 and 18 and cause them to open the circuit of the loadcoil, and this without regard to the main magnet. Thearmsare electricallyconnectedand when in the position shown form a part of a local circuit around the armature. In this local circuit, which when closed forms a load for the motor-armature, is a solenoid-coil 19, that acts on a contact through a lost-motion device. For descriptive purposes this coil will be hereinafter referred to as the load-coil. The load-coil is provided with a core 20, and passing through it is a rod 21, that actuates a contact 22. The rod is provided with an upper and a lower stop, and when the core is suddenly attracted it hits the upper stop with a blow and opens the supply-circuit to the motor. \Vhen the magnet is deenergized and the core drops, it hits the lower stop a blow and seats the contact and closes the supplycircuit of the motor. In order to retard the movements of the contact, friction devices 23 are provided, which engage with the rod 21. The contact is electrically connected to the motor-armature by the wire 24. The loadcoil, together with the parts actuated or controlled thereby, constitutes an antihunting device or means for preventing the motorarmature from overtraveling. It is to be noted that the load-coil is directly under the control of the auxiliary magnet and that it is the function of the latter to render the loadcoil operative or inoperative, according to the exigeucies of the situation. The load-coil is connected in multiple with the armature of the motor and is permanently in circuit therewith, eXcept when the auxiliary magnet 10 interrupts the circuit. In addition to acting as a load or low-resist-ance shunt or bridge for the *armature the load-coil directly controls the armature-circuit through the contact 22. Under normal conditions the armature-circuit remains closed while the core 2O is moved from the lower to the upper stop. The motor must come to rest before the contact 22 can close. l

In order to control the action of the main and auxiliary magnets and motor it is necessary to provide some device which is affected directly or indirectly by the medium which is to be controlled. The particular embodiment of my invention which is shown being intended to regulate steam-pressures, asteam gage or indicator is provided having a shaft 25, which shaft owes its movement to changes in steam-pressure. On the shaft are pointers 26 and 27, the former being connected to the center of the main-magnet winding and the latter to the center of the auxiliary-mag net winding. The longer pointer 2G is arranged to engage either the contact 28 or 29. Contact 28 is connected to the left-hand side of the main magnet and contact 29 to the right-hand side of the same magnet. From this it wiil be seen that when the pointer engages contact. 28 the left-hand portion of the coil will be shnnted by a low-resistance conductor, thus weakening it, and the core 11 IOO IIS

will be pulled to the right. When this takes place, contacts 14 and 16 engage and the motor-armature receives current from the circuit-wires 4 and 5, thus causing it to revolve in a manner to increase the steam-admission to the engine or to increase the voltage or current in case the regulator is intended for such purposes. The contact28is so positioned that it will start the motor when the predetermined lower limit is reached. When the pointer 26 moves in the opposite direction and engages contact 29, the right-hand side of the coil will be shunted andthe core moved to the left, thus closing the armaturecircuit on conductors 5 and 6, which causes it to rotate in a manner to reduce the steam-admission or decrease the voltage or current, as the case may be. The contact 29 is so positioned that it will start the motor into operation when the upper limit is reached. I have found it advantageous where the boiler-pressure is one hundred and fifty pounds to set the contacts 28 and 29 so that the pointer will engage the former when the pressure falls off one-fourth of a pound from normal and en,- gages the latter when the pressure increases a quarter of a pound above normal. In other words, the regulator is set to control within one-third of one per cent. The upper contacts 29 are so positioned with respect to the moving pointer 26 that they will complete the circuit a brief interval before the lower set ot' contacts engages the pointer 27. In Fig. 1 this difference is not especially prominent, as the parts are shown diagram matically; but it is clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, where the difference in adjustment has been exaggerated to assist in the understanding of the invention. In practice the contacts 28 are given only a very slight lead over each other, and the same is true of contacts 29.

As before stated, the motor is preferably capable of attaining full speed in a fractional part of a second, and as it gets under speed the core 20 in the load-magnet. rises. When the core assumes its uppermost position, it strikes the upper stop on the rod 21,cansing it to open the armature-supply circuit at 22. The motor now acts as a generator running on a short circuit, and the armature stops instantly, and further movement of the valve or other regulating mechanism is prevented. This action takes place whether the armaturey is running in one direction or the other.

It sometimes happens that the fluctuation in steam-pressure or other medium to be regulated is a violent one, in which case the pointer 27 will engage the lower portion of either contact 28 or 29. When said engagement takes place, the auxiliary magnet comes into service, and the core engages either the bell-crank arm 17 or 18, as the case may be, and interrupts the circuit of the load-coil 19, so that the circuit through the contact 22, and therefore the motor-armature,remains closed, and the motor is free to move the valve or other regulating device 1. When the conditions are again normal, or nearly so, the short pointer 27 moves away from the contact 28 or 29 and the load-coil circuit. is again closed, due to the core of the auxiliary magnet 10 assuming an intermediate position, and the action of the contact 22 and its connectingcircuits as previously described takes place.

The contacts 28 and 29 are so arranged that they may be held out of the path of the pointers 2G and 27, and to bring them into said path a magnet 30 is provided, which is energized from the circuit-wires 5 and 6. A switch 3l is included in the circuit, so that it can be regulated independently of the other circuits. A switch 32 is employed to control all of the circuits leading tothe regulator. Referring now to Figs. 2 to 4, inclusive, the structure of a gage which I have found desirable for use will be described. The invention, however, is not limited to any particular form or construction of such a device. 33 represents the casing of a steam-gage or other pressure device having a shaft 25, which is moved by suitable means under the changes in pressure. On the end of the shaft is a support or enlargement 34, to which the pointers 26 and 27 are secured. The pointer 27 is electrically connected to the casing, and. the pointer 26 is insulated therefrom. Current is conveyed to the pointer by means of the spring 35, the pivot with which it engages, and the wire 36. The contacts 29 are mounted on an insulating-block 37, and the latter is attached to rods that connect it with the magnet-cores 38. Between the ends of the core and a stationary abutment are compressionsprings 39, which tend at all times to move the contacts 29 upward and out of the path of the pointers. When the solenoid-magnet 30 is energized, the cores are attracted and the contacts 29 brought into operative position with respect to the pointers.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a pointer-carrying shaft 25, which is actuated by an armature 37, the latter being situated within the influence of a field-magnet 38. The structure of the armature and magnet is that of the wellknown Thomson inclined-coil instruments, and it can be arranged to operate on constant-current or constant-potential circuits, as desired. The torque of such a device should be adjusted so that it will cause the moving and stationary contacts to make good electrical connection. It can be relayed or not, as desired.

When my improved regulator is arranged for usey on water-wheels and the like, a flyball governor of usual construction can be substituted for the pressure-gage or its equivalent, the electrically actuated indicator. Mounted on the shaft of the water-wheel is a y-ball governor 39@ arranged to actu-ate the contacts 40. The contacts take the form of rings and are carried by the sleeve 4l. The

wires leading from the magnets terminate i'n brushes which make frictional contact with the contacts 40 on the revolving sleeve.

The

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brushes and contacts are so related that the circuits of the main magnet 9 are first closed and'later the circuits ot' the auxiliary magnet 10. It will thus be seen that the operation of the regulator is the same as that previously described.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes I have described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the application which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other and equivalent means.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In combination, a motor, a magnet for closing the motor-circuit, an antihunting device, and automatically-acting means `for rendering the antihuntingdevice inoperative under certain conditions of operation.

2. In combination, a controller, a motor for actuating the controller, an antihunting de- -vice for the motor, and means acting automatically to renderthe antihunting device inoperative.

3. In combination, a controller, a motor for actuating the controller, an antihunting device, a means for rendering the antihunting device inoperative, and a device which is responsive to changes in that which is being controlled for starting the said means into operation.

4. In combination, a controller having a plurality of operative positions, a motor for adjusting the controller to any one of its said positions, an antihunting device which is normally in operative relation to the motor, and a magnetic means actingunderabnormal conditions for rendering the antihunting device inoperative.

5. ,In combination, a motor, a magnet for closing the motor-circuit, a coil in circuit with the motor which acts through a lostmotion device to open the motor-circuit, and an auxiliary magnet which comes into play under abnormal conditions and prevents the first-named coil from operating.

6. In combination, a motor, contacts for closing the motor-circuit in a manner to induce movement in one direction, contacts for closing the motor-circuit in a manner to produce movement in the opposite direction, an antihunting device which operates without regard to the direction of movement of the motor, and a means acting automatically to render the antihunting device inoperative.

7. In combination, a controller, a motor for actuating the controller, contacts for closing the motor-circuit, a means for opening the motor-circuit which is independent of said contacts, and a device for rendering the means inoperative.

8. In combination, a controller, a motor for actuating it, contacts for closing the motorcircuit, a magnet for interrupting the circuit at a point between the motor and the contacts, and a switch for opening the circuit of the magnet under abnormal conditions.

9. In combination, a controller, a motor for actuating it, a switch for closing the motorcircuit, a contact for opening the circuit at a point between the motor and the switch, a magnet for operating the switch, and a lostmotion connection between the magnet and the contact.

l0. In combination, a motor, a magnet having a divided winding, contacts for shunting a portion of the winding, and a contact which is actuated by the magnet for closing th motor-circuit.

11. In combination, a motor, a magnet for closing the circuit thereof, a contact independent ot the magnet and connected to the motor-circuit, and a second magnet arranged to move the contact and open the magnetcircuit.

12. In combination, a motor, a main magnet which controls the motor under normal conditions, an auxiliary magnet which controls the motor under abnormal conditions, and an automatic means which first closes the'circuit of one magnet and then the next.

13. In combination, a motor, a main inagnet which controls the motor under normal conditions, an auxiliary magnet which controls the motor under abnormal conditions, and a load-magnet which is in service while the main magnet is controlling and is out of service when the auxiliary magnet is controlling.

14. In a regulator, the combination of a magnet having a winding, contacts for cutting the winding into and out of service, means actuated by a change in condition of a iuid for actuating the contacts, a core extending through the magnet, and a parallelmotion device for supporting the core at points on opposite sides ofthe magnet, wherebythe core will normally occupy a central position.

15. In a regulator, the combination of a magnet having a divided winding, a switch for cutting one portion or the other of the winding out of service, a core for the magnet, a parallel-motion support for the core which brings it to a central position, and contacts situated at opposite ends of the core and controlled thereby.

16. In aregulator, the combination of a magnet having a divided winding, conductors for permanently connecting the magnet to the circuit-wires, low-resistance shun ts for bridging one portion ot' the winding or the other to render it inoperative, a core for the magnet, and contacts acted upon by the core.

17. In combination, a motor, a magnet for coupling the motor to an electric circuit, a load-magnet which is connected in multiple with the motor-armature, a contact for malting and breaking the motor-circuit, and a lost-motion connection between the magnet core and the contact, whereby the motor-ar- IOC IIO

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mature is permitted to attain a certain speed before its circuit is interrupted.

1S. In combination, a motor, a main magnet for controlling its circuit, an auxiliary magnet also arranged to control the motorcircuit, and a moving contact device which first closes the circuit of one magnet and then the other.

19. In combination, a motor, a main magnet for controlling its circuit, an auxiliary magnet also arranged to control the motorcircuit, a moving contact device which lirst closes the circuit of one magnet and then the other, a moving contact, a contact which is normally stationary, the contacts being arranged to close the circuit of first one magnet and then the other, and means for moving the stationary contact out of the path of the moving contact.

20. In combination, a motor, main and auxiliary magnets which are permanently connected to the circuit in multiple, moving and stationary contacts for weakening the magtact in a manner to move the contact into or out of the path of the pointer.

22. In an indicator, the combination ot` a pointer, contacts carried thereby, a movable support to Which two sets of contacts are affixed, one of said sets being given a slight lead over the other, and a magnet for moving the contact-support.

23. In combination, a dynamo-electric machine, a coil which is connected to the armature-circuit and is arranged to form a load therefor, and a contact for interrupting the supply of current to the armature which is controlled by the load-coil.

24. In combination, adynamo-electric machine With a coil which is arranged to interrupt the supply of current to the armature and also to act as a load when the supply-circnit is interrupted.

25. In combination, a dynamo-electric machine, an armaturecircuit, a load-coil which is permanently connected to the armature, and mechanism operated by the load-coil for opening and closing the armature-circuit.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 6th day of August, 1902.

AUSTIN R. DODGE.

Witnesses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL, Jos. N. L. ENDREs. 

